Remote feed stock unit for an injection molding machine

ABSTRACT

A stuffer device for supplying a substantially continuous stream of elastomeric feed stock in a fluid state to an inlet port of at least one injection molding machine is provided. The device comprises a feed stock advancing unit remote from an injection molding machine having a conduit associated therewith connecting the feed stock advancing unit to the inlet port of the injection molding machine and a controller for the feed stock advancing unit to provide a measured amount of feed stock to the inlet port commensurate with the needs of each injection cycle.

This application is a continuation of Applicants' parent patentapplication Ser. No. 09/098,144 filed on Jun. 16, 1998, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,059,559.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a means for feeding the inlet port of aninjection machine. Such a means is commonly called a stuffer.

2. Prior Art Statement

It is known to provide a means to discharge a preformed charge of athermoplastic material enveloped in a congealed skin in a container intothe injection chamber of an injection molding machine through the openend of the container by applying compressed air to the closed end of thecontainer. For instance, see the U.S. Pat. No. 2,689,376 to GeorgeWacker issued on Sep. 21, 1954.

It is also known to provide a material supply device for an injectionmolding machine which is mounted to and movable with a movable sheathcontaining an inlet for the injection screw or cylinder and for acontainer which may be filled separately mountable to the supply funnelof the injection machine inlet port. For instance, see the U.S. Pat. No.4,422,842 to Bernard Monnet issued on Dec. 27, 1983.

It is further known to provide a rotary processor for plasticatingpolymeric material, an accumulator chamber adapted to receive theplasticated material having a piston in a cylinder biased toward areduced volume, an injection unit comprising a barrel and an injectorram reciprocable in the barrel and valving means between these threeportions to direct the pasticated material toward the accumulatorchamber or the injection unit. For instance, see the U.S. Pat. No.4,557,683B1 to Meeker, et al. issued on Dec. 10, 1985.

Additionally, it is known to provide a machine for making a slug of rawrubber stock for use in an injection molding process by continuouslyfeeding an extruder with strip stock, masticating and heating the stockin the extruder barrel and discharging same into an expanding cavityhaving a moving bottom bolster. For instance, see the U.S. Pat. No.4,599,210 to James Jennett issued on Jul. 8, 1986.

Finally, it is known to provide a means to advance a solid rod form ofthermoplastic to a hot glue gun by mechanical means within the glue gunwherein the solid rod is fed through a flexible conduit from a reeldispensing device. For instance, see the U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,110 toCharles R. Sperry issued on Feb. 14, 1989.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A stuffer mounted on an injection molding machine is described in theMonnet patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,842, but requires an operator toplace a slug of material in the stuffer atop the machine. Since theinlet port of an injection molding machines is often elevated above thefloor mounted machine, the operator may need to climb a ladder in orderto feed the stuffer. It is difficult to transport a significant weightof material and climb a ladder without creating a dangerous situationfor the operator. Therefore, the injection machine must be continuallyfed with small slugs of material by the operator or by a helper therebyresulting in a lowered production rate and/or a higher production cost.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stuffer device forsupplying a substantially continuous stream of elastomeric feed stock ina fluid state to an inlet port of at least one injection moldingmachine.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device at operatorlevel for supplying an inlet port of an injection molding machine.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a cartridge foruse with a device for supplying a substantially continuous stream ofelastomeric feed stock in a fluid state to an inlet port of an injectionmolding machine.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a stuffer devicefor supplying a substantially continuous stream of elastomeric feedstock in a fluid state to an inlet port of an injection molding machinewherein the device has a feed stock advancing unit remote from theinjection molding machine.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a system ofinjection molding elastomeric compound, wherein the system comprises atleast one injection molding machine, a mold for the injection moldingmachine and a stuffer device for supplying a substantially continuousstream of elastomeric feed stock in a fluid state to an inlet port ofthe injection molding machines where the stuffer device comprises a feedstock advancing unit remote from the injection molding machine and has aconduit associated therewith connecting the feed stock advancing unit toeach inlet port, the system further having means for controlling thefeed stock advancing unit to provide a measured amount of feed stock tothe inlet ports commensurate with the needs of each injection cycle.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a flexible conduitconnecting the feed stock advancing unit of a stuffer device to eachinlet port of associated injection molding machines.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide flexible conduitcomprising a high pressure hose having an elastomeric inner tube,multiple wire reinforcement layers and an elastomeric outer cover.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a cartridge for astuffer device for supplying a substantially continuous stream ofelastomeric feed stock in a fluid state to an inlet port of at least oneremote injection molding machine wherein the cartridge comprises a rightcircular cylinder having a first open end, a second open end and alength greater than the diameter thereof, a means for transportingassociated therewith, a means for being captured in the device and meansfor permitting discharge of entrapped volatile material, the means forpermitting discharge associated with the ends.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cartridge which isreceived in a register recess in a lower plate, an upper plate having aregister recess disposed in a lower surface thereof, the upper platebeing then moved toward the lower plate, the lower plate having receivedthe cartridge in the register recess therein, the upper plate furtheradvancing and clamping the cartridge between the recesses.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means to receive anelongated cartridge which comprises means to guide one end of acartridge within the receiving station.

Yet an additional object of this invention is to provide a stufferdevice having a means to guide one end of a cartridge which comprises anelongated converging slot in a plane below a top surface of a lowerplate of the device wherein the slot terminates in a circular registerrecess in the lower plate constituting means to initially center thecartridge.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a cartridge whichis received in a register recess centrally disposed about a means totransfer in an upper plate comprising a discharge port formed throughthe upper plate adapted to direct flow of viscous feed stock.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a stuffer devicehaving a receiving station with means to capture an elongated cartridgebetween a piston and a discharge port, means to clamp the elongatedcartridge between a discharge port plate and lower receiving plate,means to advance the piston into the cartridge through the lower plateforcing the fluid polymer feed stock into contact with the dischargeport and any remaining polymer contained therein, the advance of thepiston causing any volatile material entrained in the polymer to beforced under high pressure to vent through a means for dischargingvolatile gasses associated with the discharge port.

Those skilled in the art will recognize an object of this invention isto provide a means to transfer comprising a tapering section convergingfrom an upper register recess to a discharge port having at least oneconical section and may further comprise a plurality of conicalsections, each successive conical section having an increasing angle ofconvergence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the injection moldingsystem of this invention showing a stuffer of this invention in theforeground and an injection molding machine in the background.

FIG. 2 is a frontal elevation view of the preferred embodiment of thefeed stock advancing unit of the stuffer with portions of the frame andouter cabinet removed showing the arrangement of the feed stockadvancing cylinder and means to clamp a cartridge between a lower plateand an upper plate.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the lower plate and the lower end of thecartridge showing portions thereof in cross section with the pistonretracted to its lowermost position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the upper plate and the upper end of thecartridge showing portions thereof in cross section with the pistonadvanced to its uppermost position.

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged plan view of the central portion of thelower plate of this invention broken away to show a means to center thecartridge.

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of the central portion ofthe lower plate showing the feed stock advancing piston in its lowermostposition.

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of the central portion ofthe upper plate showing the feed stock advancing piston in its uppermostposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as a stuffer device for an injection molding machine anda process of supplying a substantially continuous stream of elastomericmaterial feed stock in a fluid state to an inlet port of at least oneinjection molding machine, it is to be understood that the variousfeatures of this invention can be used singly or in various combinationsthereof in a process of supplying a substantially continuous stream offeed stock in a fluid state to other machines or molding objects as canhereinafter be appreciated from a reading of the following description.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an injection molding system generally shown bythe number 10 comprises at least one injection molding machine 30, aninjection mold 80 in injection molding machine 30 and a stuffer device20 for supplying a substantially continuous stream of elastomeric feedstock in a fluid state to an inlet port 31 of at least one injectionmolding machine 30. Stuffer device 20 comprises a feed stock advancingunit 50 shown remote from injection molding machine 30 having at leastone conduit 40 associated therewith connecting feed stock advancing unit50 to each inlet port 31 and has means for controlling 60 associatedwith and controlling feed stock advancing unit 50 to provide a measuredamount of feed stock to inlet port 31 commensurate with the needs ofeach injection cycle. Conduit 40 is generally a flexible conduit such asa high pressure hose having an elastomeric inner tube, multiple wirereinforcement layers and an elastomeric outer cover, but may be a rigidconduit permanently affixed to feed stock advancing unit 50 and inletport 31 where stuffer device 20 is intended to be utilized solely withone or more machines 30 on a permanent basis.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, feed stock advancing unit 50 has anupper clamping plate 21 and lower clamping plate 52, the upper clampingplate 21 moveable toward the lower clamping plate 52. Means to clamp 26,comprising cylinders 65, support and guide rods 67, upper plate 21 andlower plate 52, operates to draw upper plate 21 toward lower plate 52clamping a removable cartridge 70 therebetween as will hereinafter befully described. In the preferred embodiment, means to clamp 26comprises at least two short stroke hydraulic cylinders 65 affixed to abottom surface 66 of lower plate 52 having the clamping rod 63 of eachcylinder 65 affixed to a support and guide rod 67. Support and guide rod67 is adapted to move freely through a precision bore 68 disposedthrough lower plate 52 and through bushings 69 mounted on top surface 59of lower plate 52. Bushings 69 may be made of bronze or other suitablebushing material and are generally mounted to lower plate 52 by pressfitting into precision bores 85 or by threading into threaded holeswithin precision bores 85.

As best observed in FIG. 3, each clamping cylinder 65 of means to clamp26 has mounting bolts 29 disposed through bores 82 in lower plate 52with nuts 81 threaded upon the open ends 83 thereof. Nuts 81 are shownrecessed into counterbores 84 in top surface 59 of lower plate 52 butneed not be so. In the preferred embodiment, four cylinders 65 areutilized on the orthogonal corners of lower plate 52 and precision bores68 are aligned with corresponding precision bores 51 in upper plate 21.Centrally disposed on bottom surface 66 of lower plate 52 is a stockadvancing hydraulic cylinder 91 having a central rod 92 with stockadvancing piston 23 mounted upon its open end 86 (see FIG. 6). Stockadvancing cylinder 91 is mounted to lower plate 52 by at least two, andpreferably four, bolts 93 passing through bores 95 in lower plate 52 andmounting holes 88 in cylinder end plate 87. Bolts 93 pass through lowerplate 52 from top surface 59 through a spacer 120 if needed and thenthrough mounting holes 88. Nuts 94 with lock washers 121 are placed uponthe end 122 of each bolt 93 and are secured thereupon by tightening eachnut 94 against an associated lock washer 121 against the base surface 89of cylinder end plate 87. Thus, stock advance cylinder 91 is mountedsquare with rigid lower plate 52 and has piston 23 centrally disposed inan aligning bore 73 in lower plate 52. Aligning bore 73 is a restingport for piston 23 at its lowermost retracted position.

Lower plate 52 is disposed approximately midway between base 32 and top33 in frame work 24. A sheet metal outer covering 130 surrounds aportion of frame work 24 and lower plate 52 and thus comprises a lowerportion 49 of stock advancing unit 50 as shown in FIG. 1. Lower portion49 also envelopes stock advance cylinder 91, hydraulic clampingcylinders 65, the associated hydraulic tubing, a hydraulic pumping unitand a distribution manifold. Electrically actuated hydraulic valves aremounted on the distribution manifold and are controlled by controllingmeans 60. Lower portion 49 has mounting tabs 48 for affixing stufferdevice 20 to a permanent location or for mounting to an easily portablebase for rapid movement by fork truck.

As best understood by referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, feed stockadvancing unit 50 has a receiving station 54 associated with lower plate52. Receiving station 54 has means to receive 55 one end 71 of anelongated feed stock cartridge 70 thereupon in order to place cartridge70 in position to receive stock advancing piston 23 therein forultimately forcing feed stock 90 from cartridge 70 through conduit 40 toinlet port 31. Means to receive 55 comprises means to guide 56, means tocenter 101, interlock shelf 144 and means to capture 105 cartridge 70 inlower plate 52 all cooperating to assist in placing cartridge 70 inposition within stock advancing unit 50 to ready cartridge 70 fortransferring feed stock 90 to injection molding machine 30. Means toreceive 55 accepts one end 71 of cartridge 70 within receiving station54 when one end 71 is placed upon a flat portion thereof. Means to guide56 comprises an elongated converging slot 57 having substantiallyvertical walls 36 and a tapering conical wall 106 extending from walls36, converging slot 57 being disposed in a plane 58 below top surface 59of lower plate 52. Elongated converging slot 57 begins at a front edge35 of lower plate 52, extends along plane 58 toward a central portion oflower plate 52 and terminates at a means to center 101 centrallydisposed in lower plate 52. Walls 36 of converging slot are generallyperpendicular to plane 58 and extend from front edge 35 to means tocenter 101. Means to center 101 is defined by register pegs 143, stopfingers 142, tapering conical wall 106 and a circular register recess100 having its base 102 disposed in a plane below plane 58. Taperingconical wall 106 is defined by an outwardly diverging angle 103beginning substantially at plane 58 extending to top surface 59. Rightcircular cylindrical wall 104 of circular register recess 100 extendsfrom plane 58 downward into lower plate 52 to base 102 a sufficientdepth to capture cartridge 70 therein causing cartridge 70 to standvertically upon base 102 in perpendicular relationship to lower plate52. Typically, converging slot 57 is approximately three sixteenths inchdeep from top surface 59 to plane 58 and circular register recess 100 isapproximately one eighth inch deep from plane 58 to base 102. Circularregister recess 100, right circular cylindrical wall 104 and base 102comprise means to capture 105 one end 71 of said cartridge 70 as rightcircular cylindrical wall 104 is substantially the same diameter asouter peripheral surface 74 of cartridge 70 and base 102 issubstantially the same width as thickness 75 of cartridge wall 76.Outwardly diverging angle 103 of means to center 101 is formed on anextension of wall 36 forming conical wall 106. Outwardly diverging angle103 is typically between 8 and 20 degrees, most preferably about 15degrees from the vertical. When cartridge 70 is presented to means tocenter 101, outwardly diverging angle 103 directs cartridge 70 into acentering relationship with means to center 101, cartridge 70 then dropsdownwardly into means to capture 105 resting upon base 102. Thus,approximately five sixteenths inch of cartridge 70 is disposed below topsurface 59 of lower plate 52 and initially captured in verticalrelationship within means to capture 105.

Spaced above top surface 59 of lower plate 52 is upper plate 21, upperplate 21 having a means to transfer 53 feed stock 90 to at least oneinjection molding machine 30 associated therewith. Referring to FIG. 4and FIG. 7, upper plate 21 has means to transfer 53 which comprises ameans to direct flow 115 and a discharge port 22 formed through plate 21to top surface 114. Specifically, discharge port 22 is generally a rightcircular bore through an insert 19 disposed in upper plate 21 havinginner port surface defined by bore 47 extending above means to directflow 115 to top surface 114 and terminating in a means to attach conduit40. Discharge port 22 may have threads disposed on the interior thereofwithin bore 47 to accept a threaded connector of a hydraulic hose orpipe. Means to direct flow 115 has a short straight section 128 and atapering section 116 which may be of any suitable shape corresponding toa top surface 28 of piston 23. Means to direct flow 115 is configuredsuch that feed stock 90 is directed away from other end 72 of cartridge70. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 7, tapering section 116comprises at least one and preferably three conical sections 117, 119and 123 each successive conical section having an increasing angle oftaper with respect to the previous conical section. Of course, taperingsection 116 could be entirely curvilinear or combined with at least oneconical section as long as tapering section 116 corresponds to topsurface 28 of piston 23 to cause feed stock 90 to flow from cartridge 70through means to transfer 53 and out discharge port 22.

As can be readily observed in FIG. 7, feed stock advancing unit 50 has aregistering station 110 associated with upper plate 21 to acceptcartridge 70 therein for effecting transfer of feed stock 90 therefrom.Short straight section 128 of means to transfer 53 connects means totransfer 53 with registering station 110. Thus, registering station 110forms the lower boundary of means to transfer 53. As will be hereinafterexplained, short straight section 128 allows piston 23 to move beyondthe other end 72 of cartridge 70 to uncover a means to discharge gas 45.

Registering station 110 comprises a circular upper register recess 111in upper plate 21 and register pegs 143 as shown in FIG. 2 associatedwith upper plate 21, register recess 111 disposed in a plane 112 above alower surface 113 of upper plate 21 and wherein upper register recess111 is centrally disposed about means to transfer 53. Registeringstation 110 is a right circular recess formed from lower surface 113 toplane 112 having a circular wall 129 terminating in a flat base 109 atplane 112. The width of base 109 is substantially the same as thickness75 of cartridge 70 and circular wall 129 is substantially the samediameter as outer periphery 74 of cartridge 70 and therefore, thediameter 79 of the interior 78 of cartridge 70 is substantially the samediameter as short straight section 128 and equally the same diameter aspiston 23. Therefore, piston 23 may easily pass through interior 78 ofcartridge 70 and into straight section 128 thereby moving all feed stock90 from cartridge 70. Circular wall 129 has a height of approximatelyone half inch sufficient to capture other end 72 of cartridge 70 thereinwhen upper plate 21 is moved toward lower plate 52 by clamping means 26.Circular wall 129 also has an annularly disposed seal recess 131 forreceiving a seal 132 therein. Registering pegs 143 are mounted to lowersurface 113 of upper plate 21 depending therefrom and having the frontsurface 147 of each peg 143 aligned with upper circular recess 111.Registering pegs 143 depend from lower surface 113 approximately one andone half inches and are adapted to engage outer peripheral surface 74 ofcartridge 70 upon seating cartridge in circular register recess 100.Thus, registering pegs 143 constitute a part of means to center 101 andalso cooperate with stop fingers 142 on doors 141 to ensure thatcartridge is substantially centered in feed stock advancing unit 50prior to operating feed stock advancing unit 50.

An unique means to discharge gas 45 is established at other end 72 ofcartridge 70 when cartridge 70 is fully seated against flat base 109 inupper circular recess 111. It has been established that piston 23 movesbeyond plane 112 when piston 23 is extended to the uppermost end of itsstroke thereby removing any feed stock away from flat base 109 at plane112. As such, when piston 23 is retracted to its lowermost end of strokeand a subsequent cartridge 70 is placed within stock advancing unit 50and clamped therein by clamping means 26, other end 72 of subsequentcartridge 70 is pressed against flat base 109. Although there is nophysical space between flat base 109 and other end 72 of cartridge 70, apath for gas escape is created along plane 112 at a parting line 46between other end 72 and flat base 109 such that when piston 23 beginsto move feed stock 90 within new cartridge 70, any volatile materialexisting above feed stock 90 and any entrained volatile material withinfeed stock 90 may pass freely through this path along parting line 46,downwardly along outer peripheral surface 74 and past seal 132 inannular seal recess 131. Thus, seal 132, outer peripheral surface 74 andparting line 46 constitute means for discharging volatile gasses 45.Seal 132 is a common packing seal having at least one distinct lip edge136 adapted to engage outer peripheral surface 74 of cartridge 70. Lipedge 136 readily permits passage of gas as seal 132 does not completelyfill annular recess 131 and gasses may pass between contiguous surfacesof seal 132 and annular recess 131 in much the same manner as gas passesalong parting line 46.

It should be appreciated here, that although means to discharge gas 45permits gas to flow, the same surfaces 72, 109 constitute a means toprevent viscous fluid flow 27. As hereinbefore recited, since there isno physical space at parting line 46 between other end 72 and flat base109, viscous fluid such as feed stock 90 cannot flow through the pathestablished for gasses. In this manner, all of feed stock 90 is directedupwardly along means to direct flow 115 while gasses present are ventedthrough means to discharge gas 45.

Referring again to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, top 28 of piston 23 has taperedsurfaces 137 corresponding to tapering section 116 of means to directflow 115. In the preferred embodiment, top 28 of piston 23 has at leasttwo angled surfaces 133, 134 corresponding to first conical section 117and second conical section 119 respectively. The angle of first surface133 is approximately equal to first angle 118 but may be slightlysmaller. Similarly, the angle of second surface 134 should beapproximately equal to second angle 124 but may also be slightlysmaller. In the preferred embodiment, the angle of each surface 133, 134is exactly equal to the first angle 118 and second angle 124 therebycreating a uniform clearance 126 between means to direct flow 115 andangled surfaces 133, 134 of top 28 when piston 23 is at its uppermostend of travel. Since means to direct flow 115 comprises a taperingsection 116 converging from upper register recess 111 to discharge port22 and tapering surfaces 137 correspond exactly thereto, feed stock 90readily travels successively along the plurality of conical sections 117as each successive conical section 117 has an increasing angle ofconvergence as measured from the horizontal.

Elongated cartridge 70 is adapted to receive discrete batches ofelastomeric feed stock 90 within the interior 78 thereof. As suchelongated cartridge 70 is open at both ends 71, 72, cartridge 70 havingan interior 78 of specified volume. Feed stock 90 is typically acalendered thermosetting elastomeric compound selected from the groupcomprising natural rubber, polyisoprene, polyurethane, styrene-butadienerubber, butyl, silicone, vinyl or blends of the above. Feed stock 90 isgenerally mixed in a banbury mixer and provided to a calender in billetsto be sheeted out in an elongated ribbon of rubber of given thickness,the width thereof corresponding approximately to the width of thecalender rolls as is well known in the art. Feed stock 90 is then cutinto the discrete lengths at a width roughly equal to the length ofcartridge 70, the volume of the rubber sheet being approximately equalto the volume of interior 78 of cartridge 70. The discrete length isthen wound tightly from one end to an opposite end thereof to form atightly rolled roll of calendered elastomeric compound which istelescopically disposed within interior 78 of cartridge 70, cartridge 70receiving polymeric feed stock 90 in one end 71 or other end 72 thereof.Feed stock 90 may be provided to cartridge in any other manner as wellknown in the art, however, it has been found by the teachings of thisinvention that banbury mixed, calendered feed stock 90 is most costeffective.

Cartridge 70 is a right circular cylinder of given length having a wall76 of thickness 75 and an inside diameter 79. A carrying handle 160 anda manipulating handle 161 are provided on outer peripheral surface 74,carrying handle 160 centrally located between end 71 and end 72 whilemanipulating handle 161 is approximately equally spaced from handle 160and end 71. Handle 160 is used to transport cartridge 70 from thecalender to stuffer device 20 and is further used in conjunction withmanipulating handle 161 to raise cartridge into position onto receivingstation 54 within stuffer device 20. Manipulating handle 161 may then beused to move cartridge 70 along means to receive 55 into engagement withcircular register recess 100 while carrying handle 160 may be used tobalance cartridge 70. Automated handling means may be utilized withstuffer device 20 as well as will be hereinafter described.

Referring now to FIG. 2, feed stock advancing unit 50 has an uppercabinet 140 appended to the frame work 24, upper cabinet 140 having apair of expanded metal doors 141 on the front side thereof and eitherexpanded metal or solid sheet metal sides on the other sides thereof. InFIG. 2, the doors 141 are shown in the open position each door having atleast one stop finger 142 affixed to the inside 146 as shown on the lefthand door 141 thereof located proximate but below upper plate 21. Asimilar stop finger 142 affixed to inside 146 of the right door 141 alsoengages cartridge 70 near one end 72 when right door 141 is closedcooperating with stop finger 142 on left hand door 141 to ensure thatcartridge 70 is properly aligned with registering station 110 in upperplate 21. Lower plate 52 has magnetic catches (not shown) affixed toupper surface 59 adapted to magnetically latch to doors 141 when each isfully closed. In addition to these magnetic catches, electrical microswitches are associated with lower plate 52 and doors 141 such thatdoors 141 must both be fully closed in order to actuate interlocks 145to start a clamping and discharging sequence as will be hereinafterdescribed.

Stop fingers 142 on doors 141 are adapted to press cartridge 70 againstpegs 143 and thus are in contact with outer periphery 74 of cartridge 70cooperating with circular register recess 100 in lower plate 52 to guidecartridge 70 into registering station 110 in upper plate. When doors 141are fully closed and have actuated the microswitches, interlocks 145 maybe engaged, each interlock 145 with at least one digit on each hand ofthe operator. Since interlocks 145 require the digit to be inserted intoa blind hole in interlock 145 in order to begin the clamping sequence,there is provided a measure of safety to the operator, stuffer device 20and cartridge 70 since doors 141 cannot be held closed while stilloperating interlocks 145.

Referring again to FIG. 1, stuffer device 20 is adapted to be used withan injection molding machine 30 by connecting an end of conduit 40 toinlet port 31 of injection machine 30. Injection molding machine 30 maythen be put in service once the injection screw has received sufficientmaterial to begin molding articles. Stuffer device 20 supplies materialsuch as feed stock 90 from means to transfer 53 through conduit 40 toinlet port 31 by receiving a cartridge 70, substantially filled withfeed stock 90, in receiving station 54 which has means to capture 105elongated cartridge 70 between piston 23 and means to transfer 53. Meansto clamp 26 elongated cartridge 70 between means to transfer 53 in upperplate 21 and movable lower plate 52 is actuated by a hydraulic systemcontained within a lower portion 49 of a stock advancing unit 50. Aclamping sequence is begun when interlocks 145 are actuated andhydraulic cylinders 65 pull upon support and guide rods 67 causingmovable upper plate 21 to be moved toward lower plate 52 capturingcartridge 70 therebetween. One end 71 of cartridge 70 rests uponcircular register recess 100 in lower plate 52 and is received in meansto transfer 53 at the other end 72 thereof with transfer piston 23 beingreceived in one end 71. Means to advance piston 23 into cartridge 70through lower plate 52 comprises a hydraulic stock advance cylinder 91,a hydraulic pump, a distribution manifold and the associated electricaland hydraulic connections. Means to advance piston 23 is actuated by anelectrical signal signaling the hydraulic valve to begin supplyinghydraulic fluid to stock advancing cylinder 91 forcing the polymericfeed stock 90 into contact with discharge port 22 of means to transfer53 and any remaining polymeric feed stock 90 contained therein, theadvance of piston 23 causing feed stock 90 to dome upwardly in thecenter thereof contacting remaining stock 90 first in the center suchthat free gasses may de directed to means to discharge gas 45 and anyvolatile material entrained in polymeric feed stock 90 to be forcedunder high pressure to vent through means for discharging volatilegasses 45. Piston 23 continues to move upwardly toward means to transfer53 until all feed stock 90 is moved from cartridge 70 into and throughmeans to transfer 53 and piston 23 reaches the top of its stroke. Whenthe top of the piston stroke is reached a means to retract 62 isactuated and piston 23 is caused to retract toward its lowermostposition. Means to retract 62 constitutes a proximity limit switchmounted to stock advance cylinder 91. When actuated, means to retract 62switches a valve (not shown) in a hydraulic unit (not shown) controllingstock advance cylinder 91 with piston 23 mounted thereupon to retract ata higher speed than allowed by means to advance. Piston 23 typicallyretracts at a speed of approximately twice the speed allowed by means toadvance however, either speed may by varied to match the desired stockadvance speed or speed of retraction.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 piston 23 retracts below a lower end 71 ofcartridge 70 when stock advance cylinder 91 retracts to its lowermostposition establishing the bottom of the piston stroke. When the bottomof the piston stroke is achieved, means to clamp 26 is relieved andupper plate 21 is raised above other end 72 of cartridge 70 such thatcartridge 70 may be readied for removal from stuffer device 20. In thepreferred embodiment, piston 23 reacts to its lowermost position, meansto clamp 26 is relieved and upper plate is moved in less than twelveseconds to a position such that cartridge 70 may be removed therefrom.Thereafter, doors 141 are opened by the operator and empty cartridge 70is removed from receiving station 54 by grasping at least one of handles160, 161 and sliding cartridge 70 along converging slot 57 to interlockshelf 144 whereby handles 160, 161 are utilized to lift cartridge 70from interlock shelf 144 and be removed therefrom. Thereafter, a filledcartridge 70 may be placed within means to receive 55 by liftingcartridge 70 by handles 160, 161, placing end 71 upon interlock shelf144 and sliding cartridge 70 along converging slot 57 into means tocenter 101. Cartridge 70 is then lowered into circular register recess100, guided by diverging angle 103, into resting engagement upon base102. Right circular cylindrical wall 104 of means to capture 105 rightscartridge 70 such that cartridge 70 is in substantial vertical alignmentwith registering station 110 associated with upper plate 21. Doors 141are closed forcing stop fingers 142 into engagement with outerperipheral surface 74 of cartridge 70 and forcing cartridge 70 intoengagement with pegs 143 associated with means to center 101 andregistering station 110. When contact with all surfaces is effected andmicroswitches are closed, interlocks 145 are actuated by the operatorand means to clamp 26 causes a hydraulic system to actuate hydrauliccylinders 65 to draw upper plate 21 toward lower plate 52 capturingcartridge 70 within circular register recess and registering station110.

Stuffer device 20 is adapted to be portable and therefore usable withother molding machines. When it is desired to use stuffer device onanother molding machine 30, conduit 40 may be removed from eitherstuffer 20 or inlet port 3 1, transported to another location,reconnected to the machine in the other location and restored to serviceby supplying feed stock 90 placed in cartridge 70 and actuating clampingand discharging sequence to supply feed stock 90 to the new machine. Inthe event that the new machine utilizes the same feed stock 90 as theprevious machine, there is no need to remove conduit 40 or clean thedischarge port 22 disposed within upper plate 21. Where the new machineutilizes a different feed stock, conduit 40 may be simply replaced withanother conduit 40 already filled with the proper feed stock 90 from aprevious run or a new conduit 40 having no feed stock 90 therewithin.The discharge port 22 of stuffer device 20 needs to be cleaned prior toreloading cartridge 70 containing the new polymeric feed stock 90.Although stuffer device 20 is generally utilized in an upright positionhaving cartridge 70 disposed generally vertically therein, stufferdevice 20 may be disposed horizontally upon back 18 of frame 24 on asupport, such as the floor of the shop or a separate table. Stufferdevice 20 may then be used to prepare billets for compression, transferor injection molding processes by attaching a billet cutting machine todischarge port 22 wherein the billet cutting machine may be adjusted tocut precision lengths of feed stock 90 exuding from discharge port 22.The diameter of discharge port 22 may be altered to provide larger orsmaller diameter billets for each particular molding process. In anotherembodiment, stuffer device 20 may have a rectangular or other shapedorifice disposed in discharge port 22 to provide a different shape forbillet cutting machine or may be utilized to provide a shaped strip feetto an open port of an extruder or molding machine. Those skilled in theart will appreciate the portability and adaptability of stuffer device20 to provide the services to different molding machines or differentprocesses as herein described.

As previously explained, conduit 40 is generally a flexible conduit suchas a high pressure hose having an elastomeric inner tube, multiple wirereinforcment layers and an elastomeric outer cover hose. The preferredhose for use as conduit 40 has multiple plies of wire braid and aworking pressure of at least 5000 psi. A hose used as conduit 40 may bereadily threaded into discharge port 22 in a threaded bore which may beprovided therein and attached as well to a threaded coupling jointassociated with inlet port 31. Such a hose facilitates attachment andremoval of conduit 40 from one injection machine 30 to another machine30 with little interruption is service. Since means to transfer 53 mayeasily be reached from below lower surface 113 of upper plate 21 whencartridge 70 is removed therefrom and discharge port 22 may be easilyaccessed by removal of conduit 40 therefrom, changing from one polymericfeed stock 90 to another is greatly facilitated. When removing stuffer20 from service on one machine, there is little feed stock 90 remainingas only discharge port 22 contains any feed stock because piston 23 maybe utilized to force any stock 90 from cartridge 70 through dischargeport 22, stock 90 being removed therefrom and placed in a storagecontainer. Feed stock 90 remaining in discharge port 22 may be easilyforced backward through discharge port 22 and removed from means totransfer 53. Means to transfer 53 may then be readily cleaned usingsuitable solvents and readied for use with another polymeric feed stock90.

In the preferred embodiment described above and shown in theaccompanying figures, stuffer device 20 is loaded manually by anoperator loading filled cartridges 70 weighing less than sixty-fivepounds by lifting same onto means to receive 55 and removing emptycarridges 70 therefrom. As stuffer device 20 is adapted to rest upon thesame floor level as the injection molding machine 30, interlock shelf144 is elevated approximately waist level above the floor such that anaverage sized operator may readily load and unload stuffer device 20without climbing a ladder or elevating feed stock 90 above a comfortablelifting height. Since all operations take place at a comfortable liftingheight, an injection molding machine 30 may now be charged with acontinuous stream of feed stock 90 in an operator friendly environment.

In an alternate embodiment, stuffer device may be supplied by anautomated loading facility (not shown). The automated loading facilitymay comprise a means to elevate cartridges 70 to means to receive 55such as an elevator mounted in front of interlock shelf 144 and may alsocomprise a turret device having at least two stations adapted to rotatea filled cartridge 70 from one station onto interlock shelf 144 whilerotating an empty cartridge 70 in a second station away from interlockshelf. Such a turret device may be loaded and unloaded manually as inthe preferred device or may be supplied by a continuous cartridgehandling device. Cartridges 70 may also be moved into circular registerrecess 100 by a hydraulic arm attached to the back side of stufferdevice 20 and fitted with a grasping device which is adapted to reachthrough stuffer device 20, grasp cartridge 70 from a turret device, movecartridge 70 along converging slot 57 a lower cartridge 70 into means tocenter 101. Doors 141 may be closed using hydraulic cylinders or stopfingers 142 may be hydraulic actuated cylinders mounted on support andguide rods 67 or from corner posts of upper cabinet 140. A fullyautomated clamping and discharging sequence may then be programmed intomeans to control 60.

Larger stuffer devices 20 utilizing larger cartridges 70 may beconstructed necessitating the use of an elevator device to liftcartridges 70 to means to receive 55. Although such larger cartridgesmay still be manipulated manually within stuffer device 20, an automatedloading and unloading device as described above may be required.

Stuffer device 20 may further contain a means to heat each or all ofcartridge 70, means to transfer 53 and conduit 40 in order to provideheated feed stock 90 to an injection molding machine 30 as somepolymeric feed stock will require heating in order to lower theintrinsic viscosity sufficiently to effect transfer of feed stock 90. Assuch, stuffer device 20 may be fitted with a clam shell heating blanketopenable toward means to receive 55 such that cartridge 70 may bereceived therein. Means to transfer 53 may be fitted with strip heaterson either or both surfaces 113 or 114 or may be fitted with bayonetheaters inserted into receiving sockets in upper plate 21. Conduit 40may be fitted with strip heaters, tape wrapped heaters or clam shellblanket heaters enclosing conduit 40. The various heating devices maythen be controlled by means to control 60 operating in concert with eachloading and unloading sequence.

Means to control 60 is interlocked with the control mechanism ofinjection molding machine 30 such that stuffer device 20 need onlyoperate when injection machine 30 requires feed stock 90 to be suppliedto inlet port 31. Means to control 60 comprises an electronicmicroprocessor, an interlock cable for attaching to an associatedinjection molding machine 30, a two stage hydraulic pump, operatorinterlocks 145, a distribution manifold and the associated controlvalves mounted to the distribution manifold. The two stage pump has alow speed for advancing piston 23 during discharge of feed stock 90 anda high speed for advancing piston 23 into engagement with feed stock 90and for retracting piston 23 to its lowermost position.

Stuffer device 20 has a frame 24 having a base 32, upright corner posts33 and a top 34 constructed of one to three inch, but preferably twoinch steel angle iron welded together at each juncture. Mountedapproximately midway between base 32 and top 34 is lower plate 52. Lowerplate 52 is constructed of cold rolled steel plate from two to fiveinches but preferably three and one half inches in thickness having awidth of from about ten to twenty inches but preferably fourteen and onehalf inches and a length of from about twenty to thirty inches butpreferably twenty eight and one half inches. Lower plate 52 has three toeight inch but preferably a six inch bore 73 machined through from lowersurface 66 to upper surface 59 and centrally disposed in the length andwidth thereof. As best observed in FIG. 5, upper surface 59 further hasa converging slot 57 at least one eighth inch and preferably threesixteenths inch deep machined from a front edge 35 tangent to bore 73establishing walls 36 of slot 57. Machined into upper surface 59 is acircular register recess 100 approximately equal to the outside diameterof a cartridge 70 to be received therein. Circular register recess 100is approximately one half inch in diameter larger than bore 73 and inthis preferred embodiment is therefore six and one-half inches indiameter and is machined to a depth at least one sixteenth inch andpreferably one eighth inch below a plane 58 contiguous with the base 102of slot 57. Circular register recess 100 has a wall 104 and abase 102,base 102 being one quarter inch in width and wall 104 beingapproximately five sixteenths inch in height. Circular register recess100 has a portion of means to center 101 comprising an outwardlydiverging angle 103 of fifteen degrees from the vertical machined on anextension of wall 36 surrounding circular register recess 100 formingconical wall 106. Outwardly diverging angle 103 may be between 8 and 20degrees but it has been found by the teachings of this invention that anangle of fifteen degrees from the vertical is best suited for centeringcartridge 70 in circular recess 100.

Machined through lower plate 52 approximately three and one half inchesfrom the edge and three and three quarters inch from face 35 or opposingrear face (not shown) of each orthogonal corner is a precision bore 85for accepting a bushing 69 therein. Each bore 85 is approximately twoand five eighths inches in diameter completely through plate 52. Bushing69 is press fitted into bore 85 approximately one inch and is retainedtherein by ¼-20 UNC cap screws disposed into threaded bores in uppersurface 59 of lower plate 52. Centered in each bushing 69 is support andguide rod bore 68 having a diameter of one and five eighths inches.Spaced equally around bore 85 are four twenty nine thirty secondthsdiameter cylinder mounting holes 82 bored through plate 59 for receivingthe ⅞-14 UNF cylinder mounting studs 29 therein. Each bore 82 furtherhas a one and one eighth inch deep counterbore 84 machined from topsurface 59 for accepting a nut 81 therein upon the open terminal end 83of mounting studs 29. Lower plate 52 is mounted to each upright cornerpost 33 by machine screws through each leg of corner posts 33 intothreaded bores (not shown) in each edge and end of lower plate 52.

An interlock shelf 144 is formed approximately thirteen and threequarters inches in width and approximately six inches in depth fromthree eighths inch thick cold rolled plate and has a three inch mountingflange welded at a right angle from a back edge 148 thereof. Themounting flange mounts to front face 35 of lower plate 52 with the uppersurface 149 of interlock shelf 144 positioned at plane 58. Interlockshelf 144 thus becomes an extension of converging slot 57 and a part ofmeans to receive 55. Upper surface 149 of interlock shelf is machinedsmooth to facilitate sliding of cartridge 70 thereupon. Mountedunderneath interlock shelf 144 are manual interlocks 145. Manualinterlocks 145 are electrically connected to means to control 60.

Bushings 69 are machined from round brass stock approximately fourinches in diameter. Each bushing 69 is approximately three and onequarter inches in length having a reduced portion equal in diameter tobore 85 in lower plate 52. Bushings 69 have a precision bore through thecenter thereof of one and one half inches in diameter for acceptingsupport and guide rods 67 therein. Bushings 69 are press fit into bores85 in the orthogonal corners of lower plate 52 and secured upon topsurface 59 by socket head cap screws threaded into threaded bores inbottom plate 59.

As best observed in FIGS. 6 and 7, piston 23 is machined from a six andone quarter inch diameter billet of brass and is approximately three andone half inches in length from base 17 to top 28. Piston 23 is machinedto an outside diameter of six inches equal to the diameter of bore 73 inlower plate 52 and diameter 79 of cartridge 70. Into the outer periphery135 of piston 23, a seal groove 11 is machined having a depth of threeeighths inch and a width of five eighths inch in order to accept acommon vertical packing seal 96 therein. Packing seal 96 has an annularlip 97 at the upper edge thereof with a relief 98 below lip 97. Lip 97provides for the release of gas around piston 23 in much the same manneras gas passes around seal 132 in groove 131. Lip 97 does not permitpassage of viscous fluid such as the feed stock 90 used herein as lip 97is in wiping contact with smoothly honed interior 99 of cartridge 70.Thus, seal 96 permits removal of gas from below feed stock 90 as piston23 moves into contact therewith. Groove 11 is machined approximatelymidway between base 17 and top 28. Piston 23 has tapered surfaces 137machined upon top 28 thereof. Tapered surfaces 137 correspond exactly totapered surfaces 117 and 119 within means to transfer 53 in upper plate21 and hence the outermost tapered surface has an angle of approximatelyeight degrees from the horizontal while the adjacent inner taperedsurface has an angle of approximately thirty degrees from the horizontalwhile the innermost portion of top 28 of piston 23 is flat. These anglesand the innermost flat portion of top 28 facilitate the dome shape offeed stock 90 when being pressed into engagement with discharge port 22or any remaining feed stock 90 therewithin. Threaded base 17 is adaptedto thread into the end 86 of cylinder rod 92 and preferably has anexternal diameter of approximately two and one half inches having 2 ½-12UNF threads cut thereupon. Piston 23 may be made from any suitablematerial but is preferably machined from brass as it has been found bythe teachings of this invention that the buildup of any electrostaticcharge when pressing feed stock 90 from cartridge 70 is fully dissipatedby using a brass piston 23.

Stock advance cylinder 91 having a cylinder bore of six inches and astroke of approximately twenty six inches is affixed to lower surface 66of lower plate 52 and depends therefrom. Cylinder 91 is mounted to lowerplate 52 using four 1 ¼-12 UNF bolts 93 approximately ten inches inlength which are inserted through lower plate 52 from top surface 59through bores 95 and mounting holes 88 in cylinder end plate 87. Aspacer 120 having a one and one quarter inch bore may be used betweenlower plate 52 and cylinder 91 necessitating passing bolts 93therethrough before passing through mounting holes 88. Once cylinder 91is arranged in place with bolts 93 passing through all mounting holes,nuts 94 with lock washers 121 are placed upon ends 122 of bolts 93 andare secured thereupon by tightening each nut 94 against an associatedlock washer 121 and against base surface 89 of cylinder end plate 87.Cylinder 91 has a cylinder rod 92 extending from the end of the cylinderbore having an end 86. End 86 is a threaded bore approximately two andone half inches in diameter having 2 ½-12 UNF threads for accepting thethreaded base 17 of a piston 23 therein.

Four clamping cylinders 65 are then mounted near the orthogonal cornersof lower plate 52 on the lower surface 66 thereof Each cylinder 65 ismounted with four ⅞-14 UNF threaded cylinder mounting bolts 29 passinglengthwise through mounting flanges on both ends of cylinder 65 andpassing through holes 82. The end 83 of each bolt 29 extends into acounterbore 84 machined into upper surface 59 and a ⅞-14 UNF jam nut 81is threaded thereupon.

Support and guide rods 67 are made from one and one half inch diameterstainless steel bar stock having 1 ½-12 UNF threads upon each end. Oneend of support and guide rods 67 has a chisel point machined upon theterminal end thereof for fitting into and bottoming out in a blind hole61 in a cylinder rod of a clamping cylinder 65. The opposite end 15 ofsupport and guide rods 67 have threads extending approximately eightinches therefrom to accept top plate 21 therethrough and be securedthereupon by nuts 14. Nuts 14 are ground smooth on each surface thereofand perpendicular to a central axis of support and guide rod 67 in orderto firmly attach top plate 21 thereto without binding.

The chisel point end of each support and guide rod 67 is passed throughits respective bushing 69, through precision bore 85 in lower plate 52,into blind hole 61 in clamping cylinder rod 63 and threaded thereintountil the chisel point bottoms out in blind hole 61. The bottoming outof chisel point establishes an exact reference point for the length ofsupport and guide rod 67 to ensure that upper plate 21 is preciselylocated from bottom plate 52.

Top plate 21 is also constructed of cold rolled steel plateapproximately three and one half inches in thickness having a width ofapproximately eleven inches and a length of approximately twenty fiveinches. Upper plate 21 has a seven inch bore disposed in lower surface113 to a depth of one and three quarters inches and a five inch borecontinuing therethrough to upper surface 114, this bore receiving insert19 therein. Insert 19 is machined from a seven and one half inchdiameter stainless steel billet and has a two inch bore 47 toaccommodate a two inch NPT hose fitting comprising discharge port 22machined through from upper surface 114 to a means to transfer 53.Insert 19 is slip fit into the seven inch bore and reined therein withfour ¼-20 socket head cap screws. Means to transfer 53 comprises taperedsurfaces 116 and a straight short section 128, tapered surfaces 116increasing in angle from the horizontal from short section 128 todischarge port 22. In the preferred embodiment, tapering surface 116comprises three conical sections, 117, 119 and 123 having angles oftaper of 118, 124 and 125 respectively. Angle 118 is approximately eightdegrees from the horizontal, angle 124 is approximately thirty degreesfrom the horizontal while conical angle 125 is approximately sixtydegrees from the horizontal. Conical sections 117 and 123 each have adiametral length of approximately one half inch while conical section119 has a diametral length of approximately one and one half inch.Conical sections 117, 119, and 123 are machined into a recess in bottomsurface 113 beginning at a terminal end of short straight section 128and terminating at discharge port 22. Short straight section 128 isapproximately one eighth inch in height and is a right circularcylindrical bore equal in diameter to inside diameter 79 of cartridge70. Upper plate 21 has a right circular recess forming upper circularrecess 111 machined approximately one half inch in depth from lowersurface 113 to plane 112 having a circular wall 129 terminating in aflat base 109 at plane 112. Flat base 109 is equal in width to wallthickness 75 of wall 76 of cartridge 70 and thus is approximately onequarter inch in width. A seal groove 131 is machined into the rightcircular wall 129 of upper circular recess 111. Seal groove 131 isapproximately one quarter inch in height and depth and is adapted toreceive a vertical packing seal 132 therein. Also machined through upperplate 21 approximately one and three quarters inches from each edge ofeach orthogonal corner is a support and guide rod bore 51 having adiameter of one and one half inches which is adapted to receive one endof support and guide rod 67 therethrough. Upper plate 21 has at leasttwo lifting lugs 16 threaded into threaded bores in upper surface 114for lifting upper plate into position during assembly and for liftingstuffer device 20 in service. Seals 96 and 132 may be obtained from H.K. Porter as part number U37-5.25-62B and U25-6.50-SQB respectively.

Pegs 143 are formed from cold rolled one inch square bar stock and havea curved machined front surface 147 having a radius equal to outerperipheral surface 74 of cartridge 70. Pegs 143 are approximately twoinches in length and have a one half inch diameter boss (not shown)machined upon one end thereof which is press fitted into a drilled holein lower surface 113 of upper plate 21 adjacent upper circular recess111 such that front surface 147 is contiguous with the right circularwall 129 of circular recess 111 and thus becomes an extension thereof.Pegs 143 are installed adjacent circular recess 111 to prevent cartridge70 from tilting beyond upper circular recess 111 when inserted intostuffer device 20.

Discharge port 22 may be threaded with 2″ NPT to accept the threaded endof conduit 40 or may have a smooth bore conduit pipe press fittedtherein. In the preferred embodiment, a two inch inside diameterflexible rubber hose is used as conduit 40 having threaded couplers onboth ends thereof for attaching to discharge port 22 and inlet port 31.

One nut 14 is threaded upon upper end 15 of each support and guide rod67 and run down to approximately the bottom of the threaded portion ofsupport and guide rod 67. Upper plate 21 is lifted above top frame 34and lowered therethrough and mounted upon support and guide rods 67having support and guide rods 67 extending though bores 51 coming torest upon the nuts 14 on each of the support and guide rods 67. Upperplate 21 is leveled with lower plate 52 by adjusting the support nuts 14on the underside 113 of upper plate 21. Since nuts 14 are machinedsquare with the threads of support and guide rods 67, leveling of upperplate 21 is greatly facilitated. After leveling upper plate 21 such thatlower surface 113 is equidistant at every point thereon withcorresponding points on upper surface 59 of lower plate 52, another nut14 is threaded upon each support and guide rod 67 and secured againstupper surface 114 of upper plate 21. Thereafter, a third nut 14 isthreaded upon the nut 14 above upper surface 114 as a jam nut to preventmovement of plate 21 with respect to support and guide rods 67. Upperplate 21 is thus supported entirely by support and guide rods 67 and istherefore adapted to move away from and toward lower plate 52 in orderto clamp cartridge 70 therebetween.

A hydraulic pumping unit is placed within the lower portion 49 of theframework 24 and secured to the upright corner angle irons 33 withmachine screws through the base mounting holes and attached thereto withnuts upon the open end of the machine screws. A distribution manifold ismounted adjacent the hydraulic pump, the discharge of the pump adaptedto pump hydraulic fluid into the distribution manifold. Electricallyactuated hydraulic valves are mounted upon the distribution manifold forstock advance cylinder 91 and clamping cylinders 65. Hydraulic tubing isrouted from each clamping cylinder 65 to an associated hydraulic valvewith a return tube routed to the inlet side of the pump. Similarly,hydraulic tubing is routed to stock advance cylinder 91 from itsassociated valve with a return to the inlet of the pump. Electricalconnections are made from each of the valves, each of the electricalinterlocks and the pump to control means 60. Once all connections aremade, an outer covering 130 of sheet metal is formed and secured toupright corner angle irons 33 of frame 24 with sheet metal screws ormachine screws.

A similar sheet metal cabinet 140 is formed for the upper portion offrame 24 but encompasses only both ends and the back of frame 24. Thefront face of the upper portion of frame 24 has expanded metal doors 141affixed with hinges to each front upright corner angle irons, doors 141adapted to meet substantially at the mid point of the front face andsubstantially centered about cartridge 70 when installed therein. Doors141 each have an elongated stop finger 142 affixed to the inside 146thereof at the mating edge 138 of the door 141. One stop finger 142 ismounted near the upper edge of door 141 as shown in FIG. 2 in the righthand door 141. The other stop finger 142 is mounted near the bottom edgeof opposite door 141 (not shown). Stop fingers are approximately fourinches in length and are adapted to touch outer peripheral surface 74 ofcartridge 70.

Cartridge 70 is typically cut approximately to a length of approximatelytwenty six inches from an elongated section of six and one half inchoutside diameter steel seamless tubing having interior surface 99smoothly honed. Outer peripheral surface 74 is left as received exceptfor polishing approximately 10 mm in length at each end 71 and 72.Carrying handle 160 is welded to outer peripheral surface 74 centrallylocated between end 71 and end 72 while manipulating handle 161 iswelded to outer peripheral surface 74 approximately equally spaced fromhandle 160 and end 71. Ends 71, 72 are ground smooth and square withwall 76.

While the present invention has been described with reference to theabove described preferred embodiments and alternate embodiments, itshould be noted that various other embodiments and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, theembodiments described herein and the drawings appended hereto are merelyillustrative of the features of the invention and should not beconstrued to be the only variants thereof nor limited thereto.

We claim:
 1. A stuffer device for supplying a substantially continuousstream of elastomeric feed stock in a fluid state to an inlet port of atleast one injection molding machine, said device remote from saidinjection molding machine and comprising a stock advancing unit, aconduit associated therewith for connecting said feed stock advancingunit to said inlet port, and means for controlling said feed stockadvancing unit to provide a measured amount of feed stock to said inletport commensurate with the needs of each injection cycle, said upperplate having an upper register recess disposed in a lower surfacethereof, said upper plate further having means to transfer associatedtherewith to transfer said feed stock to said inlet port of saidinjection molding machine, said means to transfer comprising a means todirect flow through a discharge port formed through said upper plate. 2.A device as in claim 1 wherein said means to transfer comprises atapering section converging from said upper register recess to saiddischarge port.
 3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said means to transfercomprises a curvilinear section converging from said upper registerrecess to said discharge port.
 4. A device as in claim 2 wherein saidtapering section comprises at least one conical section.
 5. A device asin claim 2 wherein said tapering section comprises a plurality ofconical sections, each successive conical section having an increasingangle of convergence.
 6. A stuffer device for supplying a substantiallycontinuous stream of elastomeric feed stock in a fluid state to an inletport of at least one injection molding machine, said device remote fromsaid injection molding machine and comprising a feed stock advancingunit, a conduit associated therewith for connecting said feed stockadvancing unit to said inlet port and means for controlling said feedstock advancing unit to provide a measured amount of feed stock to saidinlet port commensurate with the needs of each injection cycle, saidfeed stock advancing unit having an upper clamping plate, a lowerclamping plate and a means to clamp an elongated feed stock cartridgebetween said upper clamping plate and said lower clamping plate, saidupper clamping plate moveable toward said lower clamping plate, saidremote feed stock advancing unit further having a receiving stationassociated with said lower plate, said receiving station having means toreceive one end of said elongated feed stock cartridge therein, eachsaid elongated cartridge adapted to receive discrete batches of saidelastomeric feed stock therein.
 7. A device as in claim 6 wherein saidelongated cartridge is open at both ends.
 8. A device as in claim 7wherein said elongated cartridge receives a transfer piston in one endthereof and is received in said means to transfer at the other endthereof.
 9. A device as in claim 6 wherein said elongated cartridgereceives said polymeric material in one end thereof.
 10. A device as inclaim 9 wherein said polymer is rolled tightly calendered compound. 11.A device as in claim 10 wherein said calendered compound is a compoundedthermosetting elastomer selected from the group comprising naturalrubber, polyisoprene, polyurethane, styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl,silicone, vinyl or blends of the above.
 12. A stuffer device forsupplying a substantially continuous steam of elastomeric feed stock insubstantially a fluid state to an inlet port of at least one injectionmolding machine, said device remote from said injection molding machineand comprising a feed stock advancing unit, a conduit associatedtherewith for connecting said feed stock advancing unit to said inletport and means for controlling said feed stock advancing unit to providea measured amount of feed stock to said inlet port commensurate with theneeds of each injection cycle, said stuffer device having a receivingstation for receiving an elongated cartridge containing polymer thereinand having a means to capture said elongated cartridge therein between afixed lower plate and a moveable upper plate, said moveable upper platehaving a means to transfer associated therewith, said lower plate havinga means to advance a piston into said cartridge through said lower plateforcing said polymer into contact with any remaining polymer containedin a discharge port of said means to transfer wherein advancement ofsaid piston causes any volatile material captured in said polymer to beforced under high pressure to vent through a means for dischargingvolatile gasses associated with said discharge port.
 13. A device as inclaim 12 wherein said means for discharging volatile gasses has meansfor preventing flow of viscous fluid therethrough.
 14. A device as inclaim 13 wherein said remote feed stock advancing unit has a registeringstation associated with said upper plate.
 15. A device as in claim 14wherein said registering station comprises a circular upper registerrecess in said upper plate, said register recess disposed in plane abovea lower surface of said upper plate.
 16. A device as in claim 15 whereinsaid means for discharging volatile gasses comprises a parting linebetween said a top end of said cartridge and said register recess.
 17. Adevice as in claim 12 wherein said means for discharging volatile gassesis uncovered when said piston is at the top of its stroke therebypermitting discharge of volatile gasses from a successive cartridge. 18.A device as in claim 17 wherein said top of said piston stroke signalsmeans to retract said piston.
 19. A device as in claim 18 wherein saidmeans to retract said piston switches a valve in an hydraulic unitcontrolling said piston thereby allowing said piston to retract at ahigher speed than said means to advance said piston.
 20. A device as inclaim 19 wherein said piston retracts below a lower end of saidcartridge.